Egyptian Obelisk

The oldest monument in Istanbul is the perfectly preserved Obelisk of Theodosius that was carved in Egypt (1479 BC) and placed in the temple of Amun-Re, Karnak. The Byzantine emperor Theodosius moved it to Constantinople in 390 AD. The original obelisk was cut to be transported (by boat) and the bottom is based on the time of Theodosius with reliefs illustrating the unimaginable feat of engineering that led to its transfer to Istanbul. It really dominates the Hippodrome and is its most famous emblem. Its pink granite is in excellent condition and the decorative Egyptian reliefs can be seen perfectly.